Bossier News in 1859 (November 2013)

In 1999 The Bossier Parish Library Historical Center Director at that time collected interesting bits of Bossier news from The Bossier Banner 1859 issues. Some are reprinted below:

Robert J. Looney, candidate for state Senator, advertised that he would visit Fillmore, Bellevue, Deck's, Rocky Mount, Collinsburg and Benton from Oct. 24-29. Looney also wrote a letter to the editor stating his political platform.

Cottage Grove Male and Female Seminary charged the following for tuition for a 20 week session in 1859:

Primary Department: $15

Intermediate: $20

Advanced: $25

Music on Piano: $30

Guitar: $25

Ornamental Work: $5

Contingent fee: $1

Foreign languages were offered at no extra charge; Board could be had for $8 a year. (This last may have been a mistake, as boarders at Red Land Seminary paid from $7 to $8 a month.) Parents whose daughter took piano lessons would have paid an additional $800. Educating a daughter was expensive.

The Banner's owner reported that Dr. Evans was recovering from his attack of paralysis, and had not withdrawn from the race for Representative.

The circus which had been advertised was a disappointment. "They did not perform one half [of what they had] advertised, and that was poorly done."

Wm. R. Turman, candidate for the office of Superintendent of Public Works, sent a notice "To the Voters of the Third Swamp Land District." Turman and Dr. J. R. Evans were in favor of developing and reclaiming swamplands around Dorcheat Bayou.

Hon. B. W. Pierce and Col. R. J. Looney, both candidates for State Senator, delivered speeches at Bellevue. Scanland (owner of The Bossier Banner) says that "We are sorry indeed, that both cannot be elected, as neither one deserves the chagrin of defeat."

"A Hard Worker," probably a member of the Police Jury, responded to the letter alleging partiality on the part of the Jury toward doctors. According to this letter, Dr. J. H. Hunter treated a pauper for forty-six days. Normally his bill would have been at least $500. The Police Jury granted him $150 to indemnify him for his expenses.

Banner owner William Scanland reported that the woods around Bellevue have been on fire for a week or ten days. "The smoke that pervaded our town from these surrounding burnings [w]as almost insufferable on last Monday and Tuesday." A "slow, steady" rain had helped matters.

To find out more about what happened in Bossier Parish in the past, visit the Bossier Parish Library Historical Center.